Epic fail on all. Twenty minutes is all it takes to climb a pitch and place the nut. Ten minutes is all it takes for a TR. five minute stop on the way to work is all it takes to keep it going. One minute is all it takes to know that this isn't working. Good idea poor execution.

The One True Stopper has been at large and on its mission. It has actually been involved in the ascent of two obscure routes as is its commission, and has antics it would like to participate in, but will understand if impatience of the masses determines it should pass on to the next participant.....trip reports to follow.

The One True Stopper has been at large and on its mission. It has actually been involved in the ascent of two obscure routes as is its commission, and has antics it would like to participate in, but will understand if impatience of the masses determines it should pass on to the next participant.....trip reports to follow.

The stopper got some action in red rocks cassondra and I took it up a climb. She is going to write a trip report.

(Feb 20, 2013)

cassondra wrote:

The One True Stopper has been at large and on its mission. It has actually been involved in the ascent of two obscure routes as is its commission, and has antics it would like to participate in, but will understand if impatience of the masses determines it should pass on to the next participant.....trip reports to follow.

The whole concept was pretty hippy-dippy, who's surprised when focused, organized accounts of the use of this magical piece of metal fail to materialize? We should get a new one all the potty-heads will love: Brotherhood of the Traveling Bong, Man. That one will for sure be good for some laughs. And legal in Colorado, too.

Seriously...someone please send Roger this already-half-forgotten relic before he blows a gasket. On the bright side, he seems the most likely to sprint the approach (ripping the Priority Mail package en route), sink this thing into the first succulent crack he can find, snap a few pics, drive home at 110mph and post a TR before the garage door shuts.

One of the more perplexing aspects of acquiring possession of the Stopper is the discovery that it takes a great deal more effort to write a trip report than to actually go on the trip in the first place....The Stopper came in the mail shortly before Christmas, after which I promptly came down with the virus du jour and stayed mostly at home to recover.

1/5/13 Took the Stopper out to a suitably obscure route, Hueco Thanks 5.7 on Brownstone Wall in Juniper Canyon.

Hueco Thanks 5.7 p2

The Stopper turned out to be the key piece of protection that my partner placed on the slabby, traversing first pitch. I regret I did not take a photo of the nut in situ, but I didn't feel very good about whipping out my camera to take a shot from the weird tilted stance with the next piece about 20' out to my left...I led the next pitch, which appeared to have gotten very little traffic due to the sandy crunchiness at the crux. After starting up the 3rd pitch, my partner decided not to continue further after both footholds he was standing on broke as he was surveying the next moves. "On some routes the climbing is just not worth the risk," or something to that effect. I was inclined to agree....

we found the route to be a sunny and uncrowded alternative to moshing with the crowd on Birdland (and vastly more enjoyable than Hueco Thanks, I might add.)

Fast forward to 3/15/13, when I was joined by MP user peepeedance (Tracy) on Hearing Voices 5.7+, an unpublished 9 pitch route up the north side of Mescalito in Pine Creek.

Tracy on p3 of Hearing Voices 5.7+

The One True Stopper came in very handy on the nut intensive 4th pitch. Alas, my partner didn't feel very good about stopping to take a picture, but I swear by all that is true, it would have held a fall, it was not a gratuitous placement! Since we started pretty late and were having a relaxed day, we elected to do only the first 4 pitches, not having enough time to walk down from the top of Mescalito. However, I did get to do the hardcore canyoneering-esque rappel down the squeeze chimney from the top of the 2nd pitch (which is progressively less fun each time I do it.)

Of course, most who come to Las Vegas for the climbing also sample the other available diversions as well, such as visiting casinos

Red Rock buildering problem

checking out the gambling,

Hanging out by the slots

And, for MP'ers, going to beer night,

MP Beer Night

where I was hoping to find more aspirants for the Brotherhood by flourishing its chief emblem as an inspiration to adventure, but the other attendees just laughed when they saw it, and MP user sqwirll said, "That's the travelling stopper that nobody ever writes a trip report about." Perhaps the prospect of climbing an obscure route that might turn out to be a choss pile (as in the case of Hueco Thanks) was not a sufficient balance for the notoriety of being associated with the relic of the Brotherhood. In any case, I was not able to generate any interest at that event for another ascent with the roving protection, so Roger, if you are ready, it is coming your way.

And yet, you're still reading it....however, your idea about throwing it into the fires of Mordor at times did seem really appropriate. The amount of personal drama that went on while I had that nut was rather unexpected.

And yet, you're still reading it....however, your idea about throwing it into the fires of Mordor at times did seem really appropriate. The amount of personal drama that went on while I had that nut was rather unexpected.

Sorry to hear about that. 6 months is a long time and a lot can happen over that period. Perhaps the key is to minimize the length of time one possesses it for.t